Frost and Sullivan research indicates that the global MD-HD Truck market is expected grow by 2.4% in 2016 backed by a strong performance in India and Europe. Markets such as China, Latam, and Russia are expected to experience downward pressure because slowing economic activity is likely to impact freight growth. Capacity utilisation challenges will be key, as OEMs re-align product and marketing strategies to tap into the rapidly expanding mid-market value trucks segment. As profits shrink during a period of challenging market conditions, centralised platform development will be crucial for industry participants. Other developments include autonomous trucks, safety, telematics, alternate powertrain, mobile freight brokerage, and others.

China Changed the Game, LatAm’s Rise Overshadowed by Brazil’s Weakness China and LatAm dealt a unit blow to overall global MD-HD truck sales. China’s declining sales figures were worrisome, as several local and foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and tier I suppliers were directly exposed to the Chinese truck market, and this was first time in over a decade that the market contracted. 2 Low Oil Prices Both a Boon and Bane Low and volatile oil prices had both a positive impact (driving sales in emerging markets such as India, enabling fleets in diverting opex towards capex, and improving margins in markets such as North America and Europe) and a negative impact (recessionary pressures in several economies such as Russia, Canada, and South America). This factor also provided resistance to proliferation of alternative powertrain technologies.

4 Initiative Towards Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction North American and European markets focused on GHG and fuel efficiency regulations, while India and China will move towards Euro VI regulations by 2020–2022. OEMs’ and engine suppliers’ activities for reaching fuel efficiency targets for Euro 7 and EPA 2018 are centered around technologies such as powertrain optimisation, driveline optimisation, light weighting, down speeding, downsizing, and aerodynamics.

5 Mobile and Online Freight Brokering Revolution Gained Traction In 2015, mobile-based freight brokering (aka Uber for Trucks) in markets such as North America and Brazil grew rapidly, while online freight aggregation gained traction in markets such as India and Europe. This revolution is poised to drive significant enhancements in freight efficiency and asset optimisation.

Innovative Material Strategy to Transform Automotive Design and Manufacturing Scope of the report The research report includes the following segments: Product scope: Automotive Powertrain, Chassis, Body, ...